Patients with high blood pressure have worse COVID-19 outcomes, and this led to speculation that some anti-hypertensive medications may pose increased risks to patients dealing with hypertension.
In a new study from the University of Dundee, researchers examined COVID-19 outcomes in users of either angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
They found there was no increased risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalization, or subsequent complications for users of either category of drug.
They suggest that patients should not discontinue ACE inhibitors or ARB therapy due to concerns of increased COVID-19 risk.
In the study, the team examined more than 1.1 million patients using high blood pressure drugs.
While other studies have generated similar findings recently, this study is the most comprehensive one to date of COVID-19 susceptibility risks for antihypertensive users.
The researchers examined electronic health records from a variety of data sources to conduct a systematic cohort study of ACE, ARB, calcium channel blocker (CCB) and thiazide diuretic (THZ) users.
By comparing people exposed to ACE inhibitors and ARBs against people taking other blood pressure medicines, either alone or in combination, they were able to produce highly consistent results that demonstrate the safety of these drugs.
The team says although people with high blood pressure may have worse outcomes from COVID-19, this study reassures patients that ACE inhibitors and ARBs do not increase this risk compared to other treatments.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about this daily food may help reduce your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and findings of a new major cause of high blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure treatment and prevention, please see recent studies about the key to treating high blood pressure and results showing that this eating style may help lower blood pressure, improve weight loss.
The study is published in The Lancet Digital Health. One author of the study is Dr. Morales.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
